Receding Ayeyawady prompts vessel draft restrictions

THE Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems in Mandalay has issued draft restrictions to be followed by vessels navigating the Ayeyawady River in
response to news that the river is receding.
Deputy Director U Toe Aung Lin stressed that cargo ships should stick to the draft limitations suggested by the department in order to avoid being grounded on the sandbar.
Deputy Director U Than Zaw Htwe of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology in Mandalay, however, predicted that an unusual drop in the water level in the river is highly unlikely, despite the noticeable effects of El Niño.
According to recent measurements, the surface of Ayeyawady River in Mandalay Region stood at 409 centimetres yesterday, down from 434 centimetres three days ago.